Dorset Remembers

Sunday 8 November saw Remembrance ceremonies take place around the county.

From out of the Dorset mist, serving military, marching bands, the clergy, veterans and youth groups marched or made their way to memorials where residents gathered to remember the war dead, their families and surviving veterans on 8 November.

In Bournemouth, Mayor, Cllr Roberto Rocca recited the Act of Remembrance. The two-minute silence was announced and ended by the firing of a 25-pounder gun from the Garrison Artillery Volunteers. That was followed by the playing of Reveille, and a reading of the Kohima Epitaph by Veteran Councillor Steve Butcher, before the laying of wreaths.

With a large crowd gathered in the gardens and along the closed Bourne Avenue outside the Civic Centre, Tom Hayes MP was among the dignitaries laying wreaths at the War Memorial. He also visited Throop Cenotaph, and Moordown’s Halifax Memorial, on behalf of Bournemouth East constituents.

In West Moors, the Bournemouth Youth Marching Band led the parade through the town to the War Memorial where a large crowd gathered for the Remembrance Service and wreath laying. Those in West Moors who had lost their lives in conflicts were read out. Following the Exhortation the bugle signified two minutes’ silence at 11am with the call of Reveille ending the period of reflection.

Down the road in Ferndown an afternoon parade followed by a Remembrance service in St Mary’s Church was well attended.